Sunday, March 26, 2017

Have you ever met a complete stranger in a new location, both of which made you feel right at home? That's exactly how I felt meeting Billy Costa and Jenny Johnson (from The Dining Playbook on NESN) while dining in Southie's Italian restaurant Capo last week! But let me start from the beginning...

As a Boston transplant from San Francisco, there's a lot for me to learn about New England, including the coastal towns (we just went to Newburyport for the first time last weekend and it was so cute!), to the seasonal changes in food, wardrobe and activities, and even the tv personalities.

Billy Costa has been a household name here for a while, so it was an honor to meet him and Jenny over an amazing meal. They're both so humble and easy to talk to, dishing out interesting stories like their favorite restaurants dish out scrumptious meals.

Capo's ambiance reminds me of an Italian Sonsie on Newbury, with its tiled floors, brick walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and gluten-free accommodations. It's a huge venue, including a bar and tables in the front and a private back room which is perfect for large groups or parties (*mental note made*). They accommodated our substantial party last-minute and took great care of us, from the dishes to the wine and champagne pairing, to the friendly service!

So much love for the salumi & formaggi (Chef's selection of artisanal cured meats and cheeses). I could nom on these all day!

Sadly the arancini is not gluten free, but it contains pulled short rib so I'm sure it's drool-worthy!

The cauliflower ravioli was said to be scrumptious!

I can never turn down gluten-free pasta. This lamb and mushroom pappardelle was one for the record books!

I first discovered monkfish when the Boston Public Market fish monger suggested it - he said it's delicious but gets a bad rap since the fish look funny and no one wants to eat them! So he told me to never google what a monkfish looks like. I bought the monkfish from him, obviously immediately googling monkfish before even leaving the building. He was right - they look insane, but they taste great (even a little sweet). This gluten-free dish came with lemon, butter and capers - yum!

We were so stuffed by this point, but still managed to try the grilled pork chop with white bean and mushroom ragout.

None of the desserts were gluten-free, but they all looked scrumptious. Above pictured is the creme brulee.

Basically ^^^. Dinner at Capo was amazing - from the meal itself, to the venue and great service, not to mention being surrounded by amazing local influencers, PR girl bosses (R Public Relations), and of course Billy and Jenny from The Dining Playbook! Stay tuned for more exciting Dining Playbook announcements!

I'm all about the intersection of style and comfort, and this blue cashmere sweater from Grana is the epitome of that combination. In fact, all Grana products embody these values, since they search the globe (from Peru to Tokyo) for the absolute best quality materials, and sell them without the high mark-ups often seen in the fashion industry. This means that you have access to the best styles and most comfortable fabrics at prices that don't break the bank.

I don't care how cute it looks, there's nothing that ruins a sweater faster than an itchy fabric! Treat yourself by investing in pieces that are super soft and comfortable, like cashmere, silk, and higher quality cotton. These superior fabrics are also more stylish, so you're killing two birds with one stone here.

2. Dress for the Weather

Maintaining an ideal body temperature is key to staying comfortable, no matter the fabrics of your outfit. Boston is chilly the majority of the year, so for me it's important to invest in cozy sweaters, coats, shoes, and scarves which will keep me warm and last a long time. I know it can be tempting to put on less layers to look cuter, but you will not be as comfortable since you're not warm!

Likewise, if you live somewhere that's hot and humid the majority of the year, you'll obviously want to go with shorter sleeves and breathable cotton fabrics to keep you cooler.

If you live somewhere with mild temperatures that shift often (like San Francisco), be sure to wear layers so you can add and remove pieces throughout the day as needed.

3. Accessorize

Adding jewelry and sunglasses to your outfit can really pull it together, and make any comfy sweater look a little more chic. Here I'm wearing my favorite Ray Ban wayfarers, a rose gold bangle from The Peach Box and a layered necklace. These pieces give the eyes stylish focal points to notice apart from my sweater.

4. Add a Pop of Color

This one is optional and might be controversial. Some swear by neutrals for a chic look (which I understand), but I always receive more compliments on bold hues. I picked a rich blue for this cashmere sweater to give it a little more pizzazz and style than your average black or beige sweater would have. Bonus points of it's the color of the year (hint: this year's Pantone color is "greenery").

Bring your comfy look into the limelight by incorporating a current trend. For this look I opted for black distressed denim jeans to balance out my cozy blue cashmere sweater.

6. Discover the Magic of Block Heels

Let's be real - while wearing stilettos may look super stylish, they are no one's friend when it comes to comfort (and they can really disfigure your feet and toes which is not a good look)! Block heels are on trend right now, and are 1,000x more comfortable due to their added surface area and foot support. You can walk all day and night in them and still feel comfortable. Take advantage of this trend, and do your feet a favor with some block heels!

There you have my top tips for dressing for both style and comfort. Don't forget to use code CHOWDOWNUSAxGRANA for 10% off your Grana order! You can shop by fabric, including cashmere, silks, Peruvian cotton, Japanese denim, and Italian wool, or by clothing type, such as dresses, tanks & tees, blouses, and sweaters.

Comment Challenge: What are your tips for dressing for both style and comfort? Shop this post below:

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Saturday, March 11, 2017

International Women's Day was last week, which got me thinking about all of the fabulous girl bosses in my life and the one thing they all have in common: Confidence. To me, confidence doesn't necessarily mean you're the most outgoing person in the room, or the smartest, or the most stylish. It means that you have self-appreciation for your own unique background, knowledge, and qualities, which together bring something substantial to the table.

What's more, I feel that confidence is a key ingredient to success of any kind. It underscores to the world that you are self-reliant and sure of yourself and your ideas. Here are 5 easy ways to boost your confidence every day, and work towards success in your own life:

1. Educate Yourself

Whether it's skimming through the newspaper in the morning, reading a good book on the weekends, or working your way through a graduate degree after your 9-5 job, educating yourself is the best way to learn about the world around you. Not only will it allow you to communicate intelligently, but it also offers an intrinsic sense of satisfaction that you can't put a price tag on.

2. Spritz on Your Favorite Perfume

After donning a polished outfit, a quick spritz of your favorite perfume can honestly change your whole day. As you may have seen on Insta, I'm currently obsessed with the new Coach fragrance. Inspired by the spontaneous energy and downtown style of New York City, it has such a classic, fruity and airy scent that's versatile enough for both the office and weekends. When you feel your best, you perform your best - and feeling perfectly put-together with your fave perfume definitely adds that extra boost of confidence. Be sure to check out my previous collaboration with Coach too!

3. Exercise

Speaking of feeling your best, exercising is so important for being your healthiest self. Find a form of exercise that doesn't feel like a chore - for me it's yoga, dance, swimming, or snowboarding. When you're healthy you have more energy and strength, which boosts your confidence automatically.

4. Mind Over Matter

We've all had those days - usually a Monday, where you've missed your train, spilled coffee on your shirt, realize you're wearing two different shoes, or somehow still have a sensor on your newly-bought dress (all hypothetical of course), and you just don't feel the confidence radiating. These are the days when you can use mind over matter to project a sense of self confidence that actually tricks your brain into feeling confident. Be sure to smile, maintain eye contact with others, and keep good posture with your shoulders pulled back. It may not get that coffee stain out of your shirt, but it will make it matter a whole lot less.

5. Set Your Intentions

I know, I know - even typing this out it sounds so frou frou but it really works. Close your eyes each morning and visualize your ideal day. What do you want to accomplish? How do you want to interact with others and how do you want to feel? Back when I was on the gymnastics team in high school, we used to do this before our routines and it really did improve them. Imagining a flip on the uneven bars or the steps before the vault prepares your brain for what's to come. The same can be done for each day, or even your life as a whole. Try it and see what happens!

Friday, March 10, 2017

I had so much fun sampling the artfully presented plates of Pabu Boston this week at their Instagram party! You may remember them from when I covered their grand opening party a while back.

This time around, we tried everything from super fresh sashimi, to the floral Super X cocktail, happy spoons, tofu, foie gras, and cocktails served in Sam Adams cans. Don't take my word for it - read on to see all the yummy bites for yourself!

The happy spoons were a big hit, with meaty Duxbury oysters (my fave!), uni, ikura, tobiko, and ponzu crème fraîche. The melding of different textures makes these so fun for anyone who enjoys oysters!

Pabu is a real foodie destination, and not just for sushi connoisseurs! Pictured above is their foie gras.

How gorgeous is this tofu presentation?

Local Maine scallop crudo on it's shell.

No dinner is complete without dessert. These Mochi Sundaes are the cutest and yummy to boot. They contain pomegranate shaved ice, lemongrass, and passion fruit tapioca.

I love the swanky ambiance at Pabu, and you can really tell that the chefs have fun with their menu and presentation which sets them apart from other venues. Definitely stop by for drinks + bites if you haven't already, and check out my recent post on their grand opening party!

Comment Challenge: I love pretty presentation in my dishes! What keeps you coming back to a restaurant?